π️Lonny's War Update- October 412, 2023 - November 21, 2024 π️
π️Day 412 that 101 of our hostages in Hamas captivity
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!ΧΧΧ Χ Χ¦ΧΧΧ Χ’Χ Χ©ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ€ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧͺ
The two sections at the end, personal stories and Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages are very important to read, as important or more than the news of the day.
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*5:50pm yesterday - north - rockets/missiles - A rocket launched from Lebanon at northern Israel in a recent barrage struck next to an empty kindergarten in Acre, according to Hebrew media reports.
In footage posted on social media, the fence surrounding the kindergarten appears to have been partially destroyed, and debris, said to be from neighboring residential buildings, can be seen littering the ground nearby. The Magen David Adom rescue service says it is treating several people on the scene for acute anxiety. Video of the kindergarten area
*6:25am north - hostile aircraft - Batzet, Rosh Hanikra, Milu'ot, Leeman
*6:30am - north - hostile aircraft - Leeman, Gesher Haziv, Nahariya, Milu'ot, Saar, Batzet, Metzuba, Shlomi, Rosh Hanikra
*6:35am - north - hostile aircraft - Gesher Haziv, Nahariya, Milu'ot
*8:30am - south - rockets - Kerem Shalom
*8:35am - north - rockets/missiles
*8:40am - north - rockets/missiles
MDA says the man, in his 30s, was found without signs of life and medics were forced to declare him dead.
Medics say he suffered multiple shrapnel wounds.
The IDF says that some 10 rockets were fired at the city. While most of them were intercepted some hit Nahariya.
*1:50pm - north - rockets/missiles
*2:20pm - north - hostile aircraft - Margaliot
*2:45pm - north - rockets/missiles
*2:50pm - north - rockets/missiles
The IDF releases the name of a soldier who was killed yesterday during an incident in which a civilian researcher entered southern Lebanon without required approvals and was also killed.
The slain soldier is named as Sgt. Gur Kehati, 20, of the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, from Nir Banim.
Kehati was killed alongside Ze’ev Erlich, 71, who entered southern Lebanon yesterday with a senior officer to visit an archaeological site. Two Hezbollah gunmen were hiding in the area and ambushed them.
Hostage Updates
4 children who have been waiting 412 days for their fatherMichal Herzog, the wife of President Isaac Herzog sits on the asphalt of the street outside the President’s Residence, holding the hand of hostage mother Niva Wenkert, her other arm around the shoulders of hostage mother Simona Steinbrecher, as she joins Shift 101, a silent protest for the hostages which began three weeks ago.
Several hundred women dressed in white surround Wenkert and Steinbrecher for this latest round of Shift 101, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the silent protestors sat on Aza Street near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, where other hostage mothers, including Ayelet Levy, Orly Gilboa and Shira Albag sat from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. They were joined by Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin for the silent protest that is only broken by soft singing or by a hostage mother who chooses to speak.
Simona Steinbrecher, whose daughter Doron, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, tells the crowd of women how much strength they offer her.
“I look at all of you and thank you,” says Steinbrecher, who quotes the lyrics of the song, ‘HaKotel’ (The Western Wall), and its reference to the human heart as she calls on the government to retain that emotional connection and make a deal for the hostages. “Bringing them home is a success for all of us.”
As she finishes speaking, the crowd of women quietly chant, “We are with you, you’re not alone, we are with you, you’re not alone.”
They alternate between singing songs of courage and of war, of other difficult times in Israel’s history.
As 6:00 p.m. nears, Niva Wenkert, the mother of Omer Wenkert, who was taken hostage from the Nova music festival, gets up to speak, telling the women that this group warms her heart and she’s so thankful to everyone for stopping their lives and coming to this shift.
“I’m out of words, so this silent protest keeps me going,” says Wenkert.
With Steinbrecher by her side, Wenkert and the rest of the crowd sitting outside the President’s Residence sing the song, “Mother, Mother.”
Hostage Updates
4 children who have been waiting 412 days for their father
Michal Herzog, the wife of President Isaac Herzog sits on the asphalt of the street outside the President’s Residence, holding the hand of hostage mother Niva Wenkert, her other arm around the shoulders of hostage mother Simona Steinbrecher, as she joins Shift 101, a silent protest for the hostages which began three weeks ago.
Several hundred women dressed in white surround Wenkert and Steinbrecher for this latest round of Shift 101, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the silent protestors sat on Aza Street near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, where other hostage mothers, including Ayelet Levy, Orly Gilboa and Shira Albag sat from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. They were joined by Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin for the silent protest that is only broken by soft singing or by a hostage mother who chooses to speak.
Simona Steinbrecher, whose daughter Doron, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, tells the crowd of women how much strength they offer her.
“I look at all of you and thank you,” says Steinbrecher, who quotes the lyrics of the song, ‘HaKotel’ (The Western Wall), and its reference to the human heart as she calls on the government to retain that emotional connection and make a deal for the hostages. “Bringing them home is a success for all of us.”
As she finishes speaking, the crowd of women quietly chant, “We are with you, you’re not alone, we are with you, you’re not alone.”
They alternate between singing songs of courage and of war, of other difficult times in Israel’s history.
As 6:00 p.m. nears, Niva Wenkert, the mother of Omer Wenkert, who was taken hostage from the Nova music festival, gets up to speak, telling the women that this group warms her heart and she’s so thankful to everyone for stopping their lives and coming to this shift.
“I’m out of words, so this silent protest keeps me going,” says Wenkert.
With Steinbrecher by her side, Wenkert and the rest of the crowd sitting outside the President’s Residence sing the song, “Mother, Mother.”
Gaza and the South
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant warns that unless the Israeli government starts pursuing concrete alternatives to Hamas governance in the Gaza Strip, it will find itself staring down the barrel of “military governance” in the Palestinian enclave.
He warns that if the government transfers the responsibility of aid distribution in the Strip to a private company and provides it with round-the-clock IDF security, it will be one step closer to military rule, and “IDF soldiers will pay for it with their blood.”
“Everything depends on the preparations of an alternative entity that will replace the IDF in holding the territory,” he says, “otherwise we will be on our way to a military government.”
“The aid will be distributed by private companies, the companies will be guarded by the IDF, and we will all pay the price,” he says, accusing the government of having a “poor list of priorities.”
“A military government in Gaza is not part of the goals of the war, but a dangerous and irresponsible political act,” he says.
COGAT, Israel’s civilian coordination agency for the Palestinian territories, says that some 7 tons (7,200 kilograms) of humanitarian aid was delivered to the Gaza Strip today by eight Jordanian Air Force helicopters for the first time.
In a statement, the IDF says that the transfer was carried out as part of Israel’s “effort to increase the volume and routes of aid entering Gaza.”
It says that the aid delivery was comprised of hygiene and sanitation supplies, food, baby formula, medical equipment and 30 different medications.
The Jordanian military says the aid was being delivered to Al-Qarara, an area near Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, where it would then be handed over to the World Food Programme for distribution.
Dozens have been killed or are unaccounted for in Gaza after a series of Israeli strikes, health authorities, Hamas-linked officials and witnesses say.
One strike near the Kamal Adwan hospital in the north of the territory left “dozens of people” dead or missing, the facility’s director Hossam Abu Safiya tells AFP.
Israel has said there has been regular Hamas activity at the northern Gaza hospital.
Another strike was reported in a neighborhood of Gaza City, with civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal saying 22 were dead.
“There is a headless body. We don’t yet know who this is,” Moataz al-Arouqi, who lives in the area, tells AFP.
The IDF has not issued any comment on the matter.
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant warns that unless the Israeli government starts pursuing concrete alternatives to Hamas governance in the Gaza Strip, it will find itself staring down the barrel of “military governance” in the Palestinian enclave.
He warns that if the government transfers the responsibility of aid distribution in the Strip to a private company and provides it with round-the-clock IDF security, it will be one step closer to military rule, and “IDF soldiers will pay for it with their blood.”
“Everything depends on the preparations of an alternative entity that will replace the IDF in holding the territory,” he says, “otherwise we will be on our way to a military government.”
“The aid will be distributed by private companies, the companies will be guarded by the IDF, and we will all pay the price,” he says, accusing the government of having a “poor list of priorities.”
“A military government in Gaza is not part of the goals of the war, but a dangerous and irresponsible political act,” he says.
COGAT, Israel’s civilian coordination agency for the Palestinian territories, says that some 7 tons (7,200 kilograms) of humanitarian aid was delivered to the Gaza Strip today by eight Jordanian Air Force helicopters for the first time.
In a statement, the IDF says that the transfer was carried out as part of Israel’s “effort to increase the volume and routes of aid entering Gaza.”
It says that the aid delivery was comprised of hygiene and sanitation supplies, food, baby formula, medical equipment and 30 different medications.
Dozens have been killed or are unaccounted for in Gaza after a series of Israeli strikes, health authorities, Hamas-linked officials and witnesses say.
One strike near the Kamal Adwan hospital in the north of the territory left “dozens of people” dead or missing, the facility’s director Hossam Abu Safiya tells AFP.
Israel has said there has been regular Hamas activity at the northern Gaza hospital.
Another strike was reported in a neighborhood of Gaza City, with civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal saying 22 were dead.
“There is a headless body. We don’t yet know who this is,” Moataz al-Arouqi, who lives in the area, tells AFP.
The IDF has not issued any comment on the matter.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
- IDF soldier killed, two wounded in same incident as civilian researcher in southern Lebanon
During the incident in which civilian researcher Zeev Erlich, 71, was killed in southern Lebanon, an IDF soldier was killed and two others were wounded, the military announces.
The name of the slain soldier will be announced later, the IDF says.
Col. Yoav Yarom, the Golani Brigade’s chief of staff who was accompanying Erlich to an archaeological site without the proper approvals, was moderately wounded in the gun battle with two Hezbollah operatives at the site.
A company commander with the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion was also seriously wounded in the same incident.
The two Hezbollah gunmen were killed, according to an IDF probe.
The IDF has retroactively recognized Erlich as a major in reserves, despite him not being in active duty when he was killed.
His entry to southern Lebanon is under investigation by the IDF. In his third address as Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem says that the terror group has reviewed an American proposal for a ceasefire and submitted its response through the mediation of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and that the ball is now in Israel’s court.
In a pre-recorded speech, Qassem says that the terror group will not disclose its position to the media, but notes that in negotiations, the terror group adheres to two principles: a complete cessation of hostilities, and the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty.
Qassem says the group is allowing ceasefire talks to continue and is watching to see if they produce results.
“Through the agreement, the occupation [Israel] believed that it could obtain what it has not achieved on the battlefield, but that is impossible,” Qassem says.
The terror leader vows that the group has the means to continue to engage the IDF in a long war of attrition and that Hezbollah “will pay any price, because the price will also rise for the enemy.”
He notes that Israel is also negotiating under fire. “When the enemy does not achieve its goals, it means we have won,” he asserts.
Addressing Lebanon’s political stalemate, Qassem says the terror group will act in cooperation with other political forces and will “bring its contribution for the election of a new president by the Parliament” after a ceasefire is achieved.
Sixty-eight pro-Iran fighters were killed in Israeli airstrikes yesterday on the Syrian city of Palmyra, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says.
Those killed in the strikes included 42 fighters from pro-Iran Syrian groups, 26 foreign fighters, most of them from the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement, which is supported by Iran’s IRGC, and four from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the monitor says.
There was no immediate confirmation of the figures.
Yesterday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that 36 people had been killed and 50 injured without identifying the dead.
The Israeli military declined to comment when asked about the attack.
SOHR, run by a single person, has regularly been accused by Syrian war analysts of false reporting and inflating casualty numbers as well as inventing them wholesale.
- IDF soldier killed, two wounded in same incident as civilian researcher in southern LebanonDuring the incident in which civilian researcher Zeev Erlich, 71, was killed in southern Lebanon, an IDF soldier was killed and two others were wounded, the military announces.The name of the slain soldier will be announced later, the IDF says.Col. Yoav Yarom, the Golani Brigade’s chief of staff who was accompanying Erlich to an archaeological site without the proper approvals, was moderately wounded in the gun battle with two Hezbollah operatives at the site.A company commander with the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion was also seriously wounded in the same incident.The two Hezbollah gunmen were killed, according to an IDF probe.The IDF has retroactively recognized Erlich as a major in reserves, despite him not being in active duty when he was killed.His entry to southern Lebanon is under investigation by the IDF.
In his third address as Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem says that the terror group has reviewed an American proposal for a ceasefire and submitted its response through the mediation of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and that the ball is now in Israel’s court.
In a pre-recorded speech, Qassem says that the terror group will not disclose its position to the media, but notes that in negotiations, the terror group adheres to two principles: a complete cessation of hostilities, and the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty.
Qassem says the group is allowing ceasefire talks to continue and is watching to see if they produce results.
“Through the agreement, the occupation [Israel] believed that it could obtain what it has not achieved on the battlefield, but that is impossible,” Qassem says.
The terror leader vows that the group has the means to continue to engage the IDF in a long war of attrition and that Hezbollah “will pay any price, because the price will also rise for the enemy.”
He notes that Israel is also negotiating under fire. “When the enemy does not achieve its goals, it means we have won,” he asserts.
Addressing Lebanon’s political stalemate, Qassem says the terror group will act in cooperation with other political forces and will “bring its contribution for the election of a new president by the Parliament” after a ceasefire is achieved.
Sixty-eight pro-Iran fighters were killed in Israeli airstrikes yesterday on the Syrian city of Palmyra, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says.
Those killed in the strikes included 42 fighters from pro-Iran Syrian groups, 26 foreign fighters, most of them from the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement, which is supported by Iran’s IRGC, and four from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the monitor says.
There was no immediate confirmation of the figures.
Yesterday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that 36 people had been killed and 50 injured without identifying the dead.
The Israeli military declined to comment when asked about the attack.
SOHR, run by a single person, has regularly been accused by Syrian war analysts of false reporting and inflating casualty numbers as well as inventing them wholesale.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
- The Israel Defense Forces say that troops killed nine Palestinian gunmen during a two-day raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.
The military says three armed men who had carried out a series of shooting attacks were killed in a drone strike. The military says that after the strike, secondary explosions were seen, indicating that there were weapons stored at the site.
The military publishes footage of the strike.
In addition, six other gunmen were killed in clashes with troops, the army says.
Hamas claimed at least three of the slain gunmen.
The IDF says it also destroyed four facilities used to manufacture explosives, recovered weapons caches, and detonated bombs buried under the roads.
The military says three armed men who had carried out a series of shooting attacks were killed in a drone strike. The military says that after the strike, secondary explosions were seen, indicating that there were weapons stored at the site.
The military publishes footage of the strike.In addition, six other gunmen were killed in clashes with troops, the army says.
Hamas claimed at least three of the slain gunmen.
The IDF says it also destroyed four facilities used to manufacture explosives, recovered weapons caches, and detonated bombs buried under the roads.
Politics and the War (general news)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to promote legislation that will ban the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas terror onslaught, Channel 13 reports.
According to the report, the legislation will instead allow for the establishment of a political commission of inquiry, which would be chaired by one coalition lawmaker and one opposition lawmaker. Senior security officials would also serve on the panel, the report states.
Netanyahu has repeatedly put off the establishment of a state commission of inquiry, which is the body that enjoys the broadest powers until Israeli law, to investigate the government’s failures that enabled the deadly Hamas attacks, claiming that all investigations must wait until the fighting in Gaza ends.
Earlier this month, however, the Israel Hayom daily reported that the premier was mulling the establishment of an alternate “special committee” to probe the matter.
Responding to the Channel 13 report on X, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid warns that a political commission of inquiry “cannot and will not happen.”
“We will only vote in favor of a state commission of inquiry,” he adds.
MK Merav Ben Ari, of Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, similarly voices opposition to the reported plan, and vows that the opposition “will not cooperate” with Netanyahu’s attempt to “escape his responsibility for the October 7 massacres.”
“We will use every parliamentary right we have to torpedo the laws,” she promises. link There is something so amazing about Netanyahu. When one thinks he can get no lower, he proves everyone wrong. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that if/when a State Commission of Inquiry comes into existence and does its work, it will absolutely find Netanyahu responsible for most of what brought us to October 7 as well as his mismanagement of the war and failure/refusal to bring the hostages home. It is highly likely that the commission will either recommend or itself bring criminal charges against Netanyahu that will definitely prevent him from ever holding public office again and most likely charges that could see him imprisoned for a very long time. And once again, Netanyahu will do anything and everything to prevent that commission of inquiry from being born. It will be upon the rest of the Knesset, including members of his coalition who will have to summon the backbone to do what is right and what the country demands. The question remains if there are enough or even some members of his coalition who still believe in the good of the state above their own self interests?
The independent Civilian Commission of Inquiry investigating the government’s failures on and leading up to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, will release its findings on Tuesday.
In a statement, the civilian probe states that its decision to publish its report comes in response to reports that the government is looking to establish its own “political commission of inquiry.”
In anticipation, members of the independent probe have sent letters to dozens of senior political and military officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding “their response to the findings and serious recommendations that will appear in the commission’s final report.” It set a deadline of Monday at noon.
According to probe official Ofer Rosenbaum, the months-long investigation has found evidence of “numerous and fundamental failures” by both coalition and opposition officials over the course of the past decade.
“We call on [Israel’s] elected officials to reverse their decision to establish a political investigation committee and to respond to the many claims that were brought up before the civil investigative commission. If their response is not received by the time the report is published, the committee will be forced to publish its conclusions without their response,” he adds.
Netanyahu is reportedly mulling the possibility of setting up an alternate “special committee” to probe October 7 in an effort to prevent the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. Netanyahu has previously implied that he viewed a probe of October 7 as a bureaucratic nuisance.
The independent probe was established in July by groups representing survivors and victims of the Hamas massacre in response to Netanyahu’s repeated refusal to establish a government investigation.
After photos are published of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visiting the grave of extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane, the US State Department issues a statement condemning the far-right cabinet member.
“As we’ve said in previous and similar occasions, celebrating the legacy of a terrorist and a terrorist organization is abhorrent. We strongly condemn any attempt to whitewash acts of terrorism,” says a State Department spokesperson. link It's very simple, Ben Gvir is a criminal, with an arrest record as long as his arm and convictions for his support of Jewish terrorism. He spent his legal career defending Jewish terrorist and terrorism against Palestinians and as Minister of 'Injustice', he has encouraged and applauded Jewish terrorism against Palestinians and given instructions to, what was the Israel police but has become Ben Gvir's militia to do nothing against the Jewish terrorists. Until the elections that brought him into this extremist government, he had a picture of Baruch Goldstein in his living room. On February 25, 1994, Goldstein dressed in an Israeli military uniform, entered a mosque in the Cave of the Patriarchs and opened fire on the 800 Palestinian Muslim worshippers praying there during the month of Ramadan, killing 29 and wounding 125 worshippers, until he was beaten to death by survivors. He was a regular visitor making his pilgramages to the grave of this terrorist, who was his hero. And it is Netanyahu, who took this extremist fringe element and normalized him, not only giving his terrorist ideologies legitimacy, but added great insult to great injury and made him a senior minister. Disgraceful and embarrassing.
- Coalition lawmakers vote against bill to grant full academic scholarships to discharged IDF soldiers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to promote legislation that will ban the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas terror onslaught, Channel 13 reports.
According to the report, the legislation will instead allow for the establishment of a political commission of inquiry, which would be chaired by one coalition lawmaker and one opposition lawmaker. Senior security officials would also serve on the panel, the report states.
Netanyahu has repeatedly put off the establishment of a state commission of inquiry, which is the body that enjoys the broadest powers until Israeli law, to investigate the government’s failures that enabled the deadly Hamas attacks, claiming that all investigations must wait until the fighting in Gaza ends.
Earlier this month, however, the Israel Hayom daily reported that the premier was mulling the establishment of an alternate “special committee” to probe the matter.
Responding to the Channel 13 report on X, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid warns that a political commission of inquiry “cannot and will not happen.”
“We will only vote in favor of a state commission of inquiry,” he adds.
MK Merav Ben Ari, of Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, similarly voices opposition to the reported plan, and vows that the opposition “will not cooperate” with Netanyahu’s attempt to “escape his responsibility for the October 7 massacres.”
“We will use every parliamentary right we have to torpedo the laws,” she promises. link There is something so amazing about Netanyahu. When one thinks he can get no lower, he proves everyone wrong. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that if/when a State Commission of Inquiry comes into existence and does its work, it will absolutely find Netanyahu responsible for most of what brought us to October 7 as well as his mismanagement of the war and failure/refusal to bring the hostages home. It is highly likely that the commission will either recommend or itself bring criminal charges against Netanyahu that will definitely prevent him from ever holding public office again and most likely charges that could see him imprisoned for a very long time. And once again, Netanyahu will do anything and everything to prevent that commission of inquiry from being born. It will be upon the rest of the Knesset, including members of his coalition who will have to summon the backbone to do what is right and what the country demands. The question remains if there are enough or even some members of his coalition who still believe in the good of the state above their own self interests?
The independent Civilian Commission of Inquiry investigating the government’s failures on and leading up to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, will release its findings on Tuesday.
In a statement, the civilian probe states that its decision to publish its report comes in response to reports that the government is looking to establish its own “political commission of inquiry.”
In anticipation, members of the independent probe have sent letters to dozens of senior political and military officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding “their response to the findings and serious recommendations that will appear in the commission’s final report.” It set a deadline of Monday at noon.
According to probe official Ofer Rosenbaum, the months-long investigation has found evidence of “numerous and fundamental failures” by both coalition and opposition officials over the course of the past decade.
“We call on [Israel’s] elected officials to reverse their decision to establish a political investigation committee and to respond to the many claims that were brought up before the civil investigative commission. If their response is not received by the time the report is published, the committee will be forced to publish its conclusions without their response,” he adds.
Netanyahu is reportedly mulling the possibility of setting up an alternate “special committee” to probe October 7 in an effort to prevent the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. Netanyahu has previously implied that he viewed a probe of October 7 as a bureaucratic nuisance.
The independent probe was established in July by groups representing survivors and victims of the Hamas massacre in response to Netanyahu’s repeated refusal to establish a government investigation.
After photos are published of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visiting the grave of extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane, the US State Department issues a statement condemning the far-right cabinet member.
“As we’ve said in previous and similar occasions, celebrating the legacy of a terrorist and a terrorist organization is abhorrent. We strongly condemn any attempt to whitewash acts of terrorism,” says a State Department spokesperson. link It's very simple, Ben Gvir is a criminal, with an arrest record as long as his arm and convictions for his support of Jewish terrorism. He spent his legal career defending Jewish terrorist and terrorism against Palestinians and as Minister of 'Injustice', he has encouraged and applauded Jewish terrorism against Palestinians and given instructions to, what was the Israel police but has become Ben Gvir's militia to do nothing against the Jewish terrorists. Until the elections that brought him into this extremist government, he had a picture of Baruch Goldstein in his living room. On February 25, 1994, Goldstein dressed in an Israeli military uniform, entered a mosque in the Cave of the Patriarchs and opened fire on the 800 Palestinian Muslim worshippers praying there during the month of Ramadan, killing 29 and wounding 125 worshippers, until he was beaten to death by survivors. He was a regular visitor making his pilgramages to the grave of this terrorist, who was his hero. And it is Netanyahu, who took this extremist fringe element and normalized him, not only giving his terrorist ideologies legitimacy, but added great insult to great injury and made him a senior minister. Disgraceful and embarrassing.
- Coalition lawmakers vote against bill to grant full academic scholarships to discharged IDF soldiers
Coalition lawmakers vote down a bill to grant full academic scholarships to discharged combat and combat support troops 55-50, prompting shouts of “shame” by opposition lawmakers in the Knesset plenum.
The bill, sponsored by former IDF chief of staff and National Unity party lawmaker Gadi Eisenkot, would have raised the government subsidy for discharged combat and combat support troops to 100 percent, a move that had previously been championed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.
A previous bill granting scholarships to IDF veterans to the tune of two-thirds of their tuition passed the Knesset in 2022 under the previous government, after the program was initially introduced by the IDF in 2016.
According to the Ynet news site, the coalition had requested that Eisenkot delay the bill so that lawmakers could “examine whether this is possible from a budgetary point of view” but he pushed ahead with it anyway.
“The coalition proved once again that it’s all about petty politics, even at the expense of our heroic fighters,” National Unity chairman Benny Gantz, another former IDF chief, tweets following the vote.
“Now in the Knesset plenum: the ultra-Orthodox MKs whose children have not enlisted are voting one after the other against MK Gadi Eisenkot’s law on benefits for discharged soldiers. The draft dodgers and their collaborators are denying scholarships for our fighters,” tweets Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.
The government is more interested in “benefits for dodgers” than “benefits for the reservists who protect us,” agrees Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.
The coalition’s ultra-Orthodox parties have pushed hard to pass bills enshrining the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service and circumventing a High Court ruling preventing state-funded daycare subsidies from going to the children of ultra-Orthodox men who evade the draft.
In a statement after the bill was voted down, Likud lists multiple bills that it says it has passed to benefit soldiers “despite opposition by the opposition.”
“The members of the irresponsible opposition will not preach to us with another populist and baseless bill, designed to create spin for the media and not to help any soldier,” the party says.
A separate bill, sponsored by Likud MK Moshe Passal, granting regular duty and reserve soldiers priority in making appointments to receive public services, passes 42-5 in its preliminary reading.
- In bombshell ruling, ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war
3 judges vote unanimously to pursue alleged crimes against humanity, making Israeli premier, ex-defense chief internationally sought suspects; PM’s office slams ‘antisemitic decision’
In a massive legal bombshell, the International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over the war in Gaza, an unprecedented step that put the two at risk of being detained in much of the world.
The three judges of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I issued the warrants unanimously on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, which the court’s top prosecutor Karim Khan alleges were committed during the ongoing war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The decision marked the first time the ICC has ever issued arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic country.
Both Netanyahu and Gallant will be liable for arrest if they travel to any of the more than 120 countries that are party to the ICC.
The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, who Israel says was killed by an IDF strike in Gaza in July. Khan had sought arrest warrants for Deif and slain Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar for the terror group’s October 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.
Turning Netanyahu and Gallant, who was dismissed from his post as defense minister earlier this month, into internationally wanted suspects could complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to end the 13-month conflict. Its practical implications are unclear, however.
Israel and the United States are not party to the court, and the warrant has no enforcement mechanism, with the ICC instead relying on cooperation from its member states. ICC member countries are required to act on the court’s arrest warrants, but have not always done so.
Nonetheless, several European foreign ministers have said they would respect the warrants. And the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the court’s decision “has to be respected and implemented,” telling reporters in Amman on Thursday that it was “binding” on all state parties of the court, including all EU members.
Attorney Yuval Kaplinsky, a former head of the International Law Department at the State Attorney’s Office, said the warrants mean that if either Netanyahu or Gallant go to any of the countries that are party to the ICC, “there is a chance that they will be arrested and extradited [for trial in The Hague]. I assume they will act with caution, and avoid finding themselves in such a situation.”
The ICC said Israel’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction was not required. full article. What very few people know and understand is that this is all Netanyahu's doing. Without going into the question of whether or not they really are war criminals, the rules of the ICC are such that if the country being investigated has an independent and internationally recognized judicial system and they themselves commence with investigating the alleged crimes, the ICC doesn't issue warrants. The Attorney General advised Netanyahu and the government to have these alleged crimes investigated by the courts in Israel but Netanyahu refused. Instead, he was pinning all his hopes on the pressure from the US and that failed. Netanyahu, here again lacked the strategic planning, thinking and action that would have warded off these warrants. Looking at the bigger picture, this goes way beyond Netanyahu and Galant. This is the first time that such a thing has happened to Israel and there is no reason to believe that this will stop with Netanyahu and Galant. This will most likely broaden first to senior officers, such as the general staff and then go down the ladder to lower ranks and finally can even reach every soldier who fought in Gaza. Netanyahu is responsible for this further step of Israel becoming a pariah nation.
The Region and the World
- In bombshell ruling, ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war
3 judges vote unanimously to pursue alleged crimes against humanity, making Israeli premier, ex-defense chief internationally sought suspects; PM’s office slams ‘antisemitic decision’In a massive legal bombshell, the International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over the war in Gaza, an unprecedented step that put the two at risk of being detained in much of the world.
The three judges of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I issued the warrants unanimously on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, which the court’s top prosecutor Karim Khan alleges were committed during the ongoing war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The decision marked the first time the ICC has ever issued arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic country.
Both Netanyahu and Gallant will be liable for arrest if they travel to any of the more than 120 countries that are party to the ICC.
The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, who Israel says was killed by an IDF strike in Gaza in July. Khan had sought arrest warrants for Deif and slain Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar for the terror group’s October 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.
Turning Netanyahu and Gallant, who was dismissed from his post as defense minister earlier this month, into internationally wanted suspects could complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to end the 13-month conflict. Its practical implications are unclear, however.
Israel and the United States are not party to the court, and the warrant has no enforcement mechanism, with the ICC instead relying on cooperation from its member states. ICC member countries are required to act on the court’s arrest warrants, but have not always done so.
Nonetheless, several European foreign ministers have said they would respect the warrants. And the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the court’s decision “has to be respected and implemented,” telling reporters in Amman on Thursday that it was “binding” on all state parties of the court, including all EU members.
Attorney Yuval Kaplinsky, a former head of the International Law Department at the State Attorney’s Office, said the warrants mean that if either Netanyahu or Gallant go to any of the countries that are party to the ICC, “there is a chance that they will be arrested and extradited [for trial in The Hague]. I assume they will act with caution, and avoid finding themselves in such a situation.”
The ICC said Israel’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction was not required. full article. What very few people know and understand is that this is all Netanyahu's doing. Without going into the question of whether or not they really are war criminals, the rules of the ICC are such that if the country being investigated has an independent and internationally recognized judicial system and they themselves commence with investigating the alleged crimes, the ICC doesn't issue warrants. The Attorney General advised Netanyahu and the government to have these alleged crimes investigated by the courts in Israel but Netanyahu refused. Instead, he was pinning all his hopes on the pressure from the US and that failed. Netanyahu, here again lacked the strategic planning, thinking and action that would have warded off these warrants. Looking at the bigger picture, this goes way beyond Netanyahu and Galant. This is the first time that such a thing has happened to Israel and there is no reason to believe that this will stop with Netanyahu and Galant. This will most likely broaden first to senior officers, such as the general staff and then go down the ladder to lower ranks and finally can even reach every soldier who fought in Gaza. Netanyahu is responsible for this further step of Israel becoming a pariah nation.
The Region and the World
- Turkey denounces a missile attack targeting a cargo ship in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, saying measures were being taken to prevent any such further incidents.
“We condemn the missile attacks by the Houthis on the Panama-flagged dry cargo ship Anadolu S, owned by a Turkish company, while sailing off the coast of Yemen,” the foreign ministry says in a statement.
The Houthis say the attacks on global shipping are in support of Palestinian terror group Hamas amid the war in Gaza.
Survivors
Personal Stories Taken captive: Matan Zangauker, ‘is a survivor’24-year-old’s partner, Ilana Gritzewsky, was released Nov. 30
Matan Zangauker, 24, and Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, were abducted from their Kibbutz Nir Oz home on October 7 as Hamas terrorists waged a massacre on the kibbutz during the group’s terror onslaught on southern Israel, killing or kidnapping one in four residents on what has become known as the Black Shabbat.
Ilana Gritzewsky was released on November 30 as part of an extension of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Her partner, Matan Zangauker, is still captive.
Zangauker’s mother, Einav Zangauker, said after Ilana’s release that they had no information about Matan, except for “a sign of life.” She added that he is strong and a survivor, and can live on rationed food and water.
“Matan, as you were robbed of life, you will return to life, we’re fighting for you,” said Zangauker.
Zangauker is very close with his mother, who lives in nearby Ofakim and was in touch with her on the morning of October 7. When the sirens began sounding early that morning, he told her to relax — they were in their bedroom, which is the safe room.
As the situation worsened in the kibbutz, Zangauker wrote to his mother that the terrorists were in their house.
“Everything will be okay, my prince,” wrote his mother.
Then Matan wrote, “I love you, don’t cry.”
And finally, “Here. Here. Here.”
Zangauker’s parents divorced when he was young and Matan often took care of his younger sisters. He is known as an independent, mature person, always available for support and understanding.
Gritzewsky, Zangauker’s girlfriend, made aliyah from Mexico 14 years ago, on the Naala program. Her parents and sister later immigrated to Israel.
"I have a simulation for the moment I meet Matan. I’ll run to him, hug him, and lay his head on my chest—like after giving birth."
Einav Tzangoker's world turned upside down a year ago. Her eldest son, Matan Tzangoker, was abducted from his home in Nir Oz, and since then, she has been fighting to bring him and all the other hostages back to Israel. In an interview on *"Intimate"* with Rafi Reshef, Einav opens up about the hostility and violence directed at her, her preparations for the moment she reunites with her son, and the toll the situation has taken on her daily life.
Over the past year, Einav has unwillingly become one of the most prominent symbols of the campaign to bring back the hostages. Her son, Matan Tzangoker, 24, was abducted from Nir Oz, where he lived and worked with his partner, Ilana Gritchevsky. On that harrowing Saturday, the two were separated while escaping through the window of their safe room and were kidnapped separately. Ilana was released after 55 days of captivity.
For Einav, the fight to bring Matan home has consumed her life. She has been protesting near the Kirya in Tel Aviv, facing threats, curses, and violence, while balancing her responsibilities as a single mother raising her three children: Matan, Natalie, and Shani, who suffers from muscular dystrophy. At the start of the war, Einav stayed away from media attention until a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned her into a central figure in the movement.
When asked how she has changed over the year, Einav responds:
"Motherhood hasn’t changed me—I’ve always been this way since giving birth to Matan. But I discovered a strength within me that I didn’t know existed. I believe it comes from Matan. I’ve learned I can endure pressure and do whatever it takes to bring Matan home, and I’m grateful for that."
MatanHow much do you sleep in a 24-hour period?
"Very little. My eyes close around two or three in the early morning. I wake up before six in the morning."
How much do you eat?
"Also very little, I have no appetite. If I sit to eat in a restaurant, my eyes are overwhelmed by the abundance on the table, but emotionally, it's hard for me to enjoy food the way I used to before October 7."
Do you force yourself to eat to stay strong enough to cope?
"Of course. I have to maintain my physical health despite the guilt. I know that my Matan is probably sharing a quarter of a pita with his fellow captives. He is suffering, along with all the hostages, from severe nutritional deprivation. The guilt is also one of the factors affecting my appetite."
How much do you smoke?
"Before October 7, I smoked 10-15 cigarettes a day. Today, unfortunately, I find myself smoking between three and four packs of cigarettes."
**On October 7, the lives of the Tsangauker family changed completely.**
The routine of life was entirely overturned. Einav, who fully dedicated herself to the struggle, decided to pull her daughters out of their frameworks—Natali from the army and Shani from school. "I fear that, God forbid, someone might harm my daughters, even if it's just with a hurtful remark. That someone might criticize them because of the struggle I’m leading to bring back their brother," she explains.
**Didn't you think that staying in their frameworks might ease things and provide support?**
"In the first two to three months, the education system supported Shani on a daily basis. The school staff, counselors, and teachers maintained close contact. But the system provides solutions for those who choose to attend school. Today, the Ministry of Education offers me the option of homeschooling for Shani, including Ministry of Education teachers, but this option is challenging given the struggle I’m leading. We're often away from home."
**Are your daughters angry that you don't have time to devote to them? Or are they able to handle it?**
"I’ve discovered that my daughters are stronger than both me and Matan combined. They function independently and suffer not only from the absence of their mother but also from the absence of their older brother. I have amazing daughters. Sometimes they ask that we spend more time together, that we make an effort to have some time."
**It sounds inhuman for them not to be angry with you and ask for attention.**
"They’re not angry, but sometimes, in our daily interactions, I do feel that they miss me as a mother. They accompany me and are with me everywhere, and sometimes they have to go whole days without their mom. It's a price they pay, and I’m aware of it. My daughters are no less fighters than I am."
Einav, who raised Matan and his sisters on her own, is also at the forefront of the fight to bring her son home. She now shares that Matan’s father, who had been out of the picture until now, has returned following their shared tragedy.
“Matan's father and I divorced when the kids were young. They’re used to not having a father figure at home; Matan filled that void,” Einav says. “From the moment Matan was kidnapped, I decided to reconnect Yaron with the family so we could face this together, for better or worse, especially since our son was taken. Yaron and I are very different in nature, but I respect and accept him. He grieves Matan’s absence and captivity in his own way and actively helps raise awareness.”
**Does he maintain contact with the girls?**
“Not much, but I never interfere in their relationships. I always encourage them to have a relationship and avoid being judgmental toward the girls or Yaron.”
**You said Matan acted somewhat as a father figure. What do you mean by that?**
“He did everything to raise the girls with values of acceptance and equality. Sometimes, he took it to an extreme, teaching them to sacrifice themselves for others. That was a point of disagreement between us. I believed they should stand their ground on what’s important to them, but Matan insisted on prioritizing togetherness, even at the cost of self-sacrifice.”
**You mentioned he protected your honor against stigmas of being a single, Mizrahi mother from the periphery.**
“People don’t talk about it much, but those stigmas exist. There’s a stereotype about single mothers, especially Mizrahi ones. When they finish their marriage and dedicate their lives to raising their kids alone, people make comments like, ‘She’s dressing up to find a new partner.’ Matan made sure to protect my dignity in Ofakim.”
Matan’s partner, Ilana, was also kidnapped on the “Black Saturday” from their home in Nir Oz. Due to their separation during the event, they were taken captive by different groups and didn’t meet in captivity. “When they jumped out of the secure room window, Ilana ran one way, and Matan another, leading to their separate capture,” Einav explained. Ilana returned after 55 days in captivity and continues to fight for Matan’s release alongside his family.
**How close were you to Ilana before the war?**
“Very close. From the moment she entered Matan’s life and he introduced her to us, we formed a deep bond. They lived together for two years in Nir Oz.”
**When did you receive the first sign of life from Matan?**
“After the most amazing and strong woman I know, Yocheved Lifshitz, was released. She said that in the first 24 hours after the October 7 attack, they were held in the same location. Before being separated, there was a conversation among the captives. She didn’t know Matan before, but she remembered a muscular guy with a tank top and long, wild hair who said he wasn’t from the kibbutz but from Ofakim and wanted to go home. That was the first sign of life Yocheved gave us, confirming he wasn’t injured and was in good condition, which was encouraging.”
**You were originally a strong Netanyahu supporter but made headlines in March with a dramatic press conference denouncing him. What changed?**
“I was originally one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest supporters and a staunch Likud voter. After meeting with members of the security cabinet and the prime minister multiple times, I realized the reassurances we families of the captives were receiving were hollow, with no concrete military or diplomatic actions behind them. That realization was devastating.”
**Aren’t you afraid?**
“I have nothing to fear. The worst has already happened to me. My eldest and dearest son was kidnapped by a terrorist organization, breaking the basic contract between citizens and their government.”
**How do you think Matan will react to everything you’ve done?**
“I think he’ll be surprised by the level of exposure my family and I have received. Knowing that the entire nation feels as if he grew up alongside them will astonish him, but he won’t be surprised by my determination.”
**When did you start feeling hostility from the public?**
“When Matan was kidnapped, I was still living in Ofakim, which is known for its support of the right-wing camp. I was part of that supportive network. To the city’s credit, there was a strong sense of community, and we were embraced with incredible empathy and support. People asked how they could help, and the solidarity was indescribable. But as I began criticizing decision-makers, especially the prime minister, the support stopped. It was like a knife cutting the thin thread that still connected me to the community.”
**Including threats against you?**
“Yes, threats, hateful messages, and attempts to harm me in public spaces. For example, after I blocked Highway 4 to raise awareness about Matan and the other captives, I stood in the middle of the road near a bonfire I had lit. A driver shouted at me, ‘If you don’t move, I’ll run you over.’ People have lost their humanity and are willing to harm me physically.”
Einav’s family has endured severe violence at protests for Matan’s release. Her daughter was choked, another protester drove into her niece, and Matan’s partner Ilana, who had been kidnapped and released, also faced violence. “We filed complaints about the police violence, but after a few weeks, we received emails or letters saying the cases were closed due to lack of evidence or public interest. I don’t see any point in continuing to fight that battle with the Department for Police Investigations.”
**Is there something positive in all this?**
“Yes, the officer assigned to us since that Saturday, Nurit Lamai. She’s not just a liaison officer to the family—she treats Matan as if he were her own son. She has a daughter named Alma, and to me, I now have four children: Matan, Natalie, Shani, and Alma. Nurit oversees all the intelligence and military aspects of Matan’s situation.”
**Do you practice simulations with her about what it will be like when Matan returns?**
“Yes, we analyze the intelligence and military updates daily, sometimes multiple times a day. However, simulations about Matan’s return happen less often.”
**What do those simulations look like?**
“We discuss who Matan will want to see first when he comes back. There’s also the question of how to gently reintegrate him into reality, ensuring a soft landing without overwhelming him. Many of his friends and neighbors from Kibbutz Nir Oz are no longer alive, and we think about how to break this news to him.”
**Do you rehearse the moment of your reunion?**
“Of course. In the simulation, Nurit stands a few meters away from me. When I know Matan is back in the country, I’ll run to him, hug him, and lay his head on my chest. When a mother gives birth, the first thing the hospital staff does is place the baby on her chest. That’s the moment I want to recreate with Matan when he comes home. When he was born, that was our first connection—mother and son. Afterward, doctors listen for the baby’s cry. This time, I don’t want to hear crying. I want to hear him say, ‘Mom.’ That’s it. His return will be like a rebirth.”
**Are you afraid you’ll never know what happened to Matan?**
“That’s not an option. I reject it outright. It’s unthinkable that citizens and soldiers kidnapped from a sovereign state wouldn’t come home. The Israel Defense Forces must provide closure for every family whose loved ones are currently in captivity.”
**It might be early to ask, but considering the leadership skills you’ve demonstrated this year, do you see yourself entering politics?**
“No. I can’t think about ‘Einav after.’ Right now, I’m focused on the Einav who is fighting and won’t stop until all 101 captives are brought home. ‘Einav after’ will be born only when Matan returns, along with the last of the captives.” link
“We condemn the missile attacks by the Houthis on the Panama-flagged dry cargo ship Anadolu S, owned by a Turkish company, while sailing off the coast of Yemen,” the foreign ministry says in a statement.
The Houthis say the attacks on global shipping are in support of Palestinian terror group Hamas amid the war in Gaza.
Matan Zangauker, 24, and Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, were abducted from their Kibbutz Nir Oz home on October 7 as Hamas terrorists waged a massacre on the kibbutz during the group’s terror onslaught on southern Israel, killing or kidnapping one in four residents on what has become known as the Black Shabbat.
Ilana Gritzewsky was released on November 30 as part of an extension of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Her partner, Matan Zangauker, is still captive.
Zangauker’s mother, Einav Zangauker, said after Ilana’s release that they had no information about Matan, except for “a sign of life.” She added that he is strong and a survivor, and can live on rationed food and water.
“Matan, as you were robbed of life, you will return to life, we’re fighting for you,” said Zangauker.
Zangauker is very close with his mother, who lives in nearby Ofakim and was in touch with her on the morning of October 7. When the sirens began sounding early that morning, he told her to relax — they were in their bedroom, which is the safe room.
As the situation worsened in the kibbutz, Zangauker wrote to his mother that the terrorists were in their house.
“Everything will be okay, my prince,” wrote his mother.
Then Matan wrote, “I love you, don’t cry.”
And finally, “Here. Here. Here.”
Zangauker’s parents divorced when he was young and Matan often took care of his younger sisters. He is known as an independent, mature person, always available for support and understanding.
Gritzewsky, Zangauker’s girlfriend, made aliyah from Mexico 14 years ago, on the Naala program. Her parents and sister later immigrated to Israel.
"I have a simulation for the moment I meet Matan. I’ll run to him, hug him, and lay his head on my chest—like after giving birth."
Einav Tzangoker's world turned upside down a year ago. Her eldest son, Matan Tzangoker, was abducted from his home in Nir Oz, and since then, she has been fighting to bring him and all the other hostages back to Israel. In an interview on *"Intimate"* with Rafi Reshef, Einav opens up about the hostility and violence directed at her, her preparations for the moment she reunites with her son, and the toll the situation has taken on her daily life.
Over the past year, Einav has unwillingly become one of the most prominent symbols of the campaign to bring back the hostages. Her son, Matan Tzangoker, 24, was abducted from Nir Oz, where he lived and worked with his partner, Ilana Gritchevsky. On that harrowing Saturday, the two were separated while escaping through the window of their safe room and were kidnapped separately. Ilana was released after 55 days of captivity.
For Einav, the fight to bring Matan home has consumed her life. She has been protesting near the Kirya in Tel Aviv, facing threats, curses, and violence, while balancing her responsibilities as a single mother raising her three children: Matan, Natalie, and Shani, who suffers from muscular dystrophy. At the start of the war, Einav stayed away from media attention until a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned her into a central figure in the movement.
When asked how she has changed over the year, Einav responds:
"Motherhood hasn’t changed me—I’ve always been this way since giving birth to Matan. But I discovered a strength within me that I didn’t know existed. I believe it comes from Matan. I’ve learned I can endure pressure and do whatever it takes to bring Matan home, and I’m grateful for that."
How much do you sleep in a 24-hour period?
"Very little. My eyes close around two or three in the early morning. I wake up before six in the morning."
How much do you eat?
"Also very little, I have no appetite. If I sit to eat in a restaurant, my eyes are overwhelmed by the abundance on the table, but emotionally, it's hard for me to enjoy food the way I used to before October 7."
Do you force yourself to eat to stay strong enough to cope?
"Of course. I have to maintain my physical health despite the guilt. I know that my Matan is probably sharing a quarter of a pita with his fellow captives. He is suffering, along with all the hostages, from severe nutritional deprivation. The guilt is also one of the factors affecting my appetite."
How much do you smoke?
"Before October 7, I smoked 10-15 cigarettes a day. Today, unfortunately, I find myself smoking between three and four packs of cigarettes."
**On October 7, the lives of the Tsangauker family changed completely.**
The routine of life was entirely overturned. Einav, who fully dedicated herself to the struggle, decided to pull her daughters out of their frameworks—Natali from the army and Shani from school. "I fear that, God forbid, someone might harm my daughters, even if it's just with a hurtful remark. That someone might criticize them because of the struggle I’m leading to bring back their brother," she explains.
**Didn't you think that staying in their frameworks might ease things and provide support?**
"In the first two to three months, the education system supported Shani on a daily basis. The school staff, counselors, and teachers maintained close contact. But the system provides solutions for those who choose to attend school. Today, the Ministry of Education offers me the option of homeschooling for Shani, including Ministry of Education teachers, but this option is challenging given the struggle I’m leading. We're often away from home."
**Are your daughters angry that you don't have time to devote to them? Or are they able to handle it?**
"I’ve discovered that my daughters are stronger than both me and Matan combined. They function independently and suffer not only from the absence of their mother but also from the absence of their older brother. I have amazing daughters. Sometimes they ask that we spend more time together, that we make an effort to have some time."
**It sounds inhuman for them not to be angry with you and ask for attention.**
"They’re not angry, but sometimes, in our daily interactions, I do feel that they miss me as a mother. They accompany me and are with me everywhere, and sometimes they have to go whole days without their mom. It's a price they pay, and I’m aware of it. My daughters are no less fighters than I am."
Einav, who raised Matan and his sisters on her own, is also at the forefront of the fight to bring her son home. She now shares that Matan’s father, who had been out of the picture until now, has returned following their shared tragedy.
“Matan's father and I divorced when the kids were young. They’re used to not having a father figure at home; Matan filled that void,” Einav says. “From the moment Matan was kidnapped, I decided to reconnect Yaron with the family so we could face this together, for better or worse, especially since our son was taken. Yaron and I are very different in nature, but I respect and accept him. He grieves Matan’s absence and captivity in his own way and actively helps raise awareness.”
**Does he maintain contact with the girls?**
“Not much, but I never interfere in their relationships. I always encourage them to have a relationship and avoid being judgmental toward the girls or Yaron.”
**You said Matan acted somewhat as a father figure. What do you mean by that?**
“He did everything to raise the girls with values of acceptance and equality. Sometimes, he took it to an extreme, teaching them to sacrifice themselves for others. That was a point of disagreement between us. I believed they should stand their ground on what’s important to them, but Matan insisted on prioritizing togetherness, even at the cost of self-sacrifice.”
**You mentioned he protected your honor against stigmas of being a single, Mizrahi mother from the periphery.**
“People don’t talk about it much, but those stigmas exist. There’s a stereotype about single mothers, especially Mizrahi ones. When they finish their marriage and dedicate their lives to raising their kids alone, people make comments like, ‘She’s dressing up to find a new partner.’ Matan made sure to protect my dignity in Ofakim.”
Matan’s partner, Ilana, was also kidnapped on the “Black Saturday” from their home in Nir Oz. Due to their separation during the event, they were taken captive by different groups and didn’t meet in captivity. “When they jumped out of the secure room window, Ilana ran one way, and Matan another, leading to their separate capture,” Einav explained. Ilana returned after 55 days in captivity and continues to fight for Matan’s release alongside his family.
**How close were you to Ilana before the war?**
“Very close. From the moment she entered Matan’s life and he introduced her to us, we formed a deep bond. They lived together for two years in Nir Oz.”
**When did you receive the first sign of life from Matan?**
“After the most amazing and strong woman I know, Yocheved Lifshitz, was released. She said that in the first 24 hours after the October 7 attack, they were held in the same location. Before being separated, there was a conversation among the captives. She didn’t know Matan before, but she remembered a muscular guy with a tank top and long, wild hair who said he wasn’t from the kibbutz but from Ofakim and wanted to go home. That was the first sign of life Yocheved gave us, confirming he wasn’t injured and was in good condition, which was encouraging.”
**You were originally a strong Netanyahu supporter but made headlines in March with a dramatic press conference denouncing him. What changed?**
“I was originally one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest supporters and a staunch Likud voter. After meeting with members of the security cabinet and the prime minister multiple times, I realized the reassurances we families of the captives were receiving were hollow, with no concrete military or diplomatic actions behind them. That realization was devastating.”
**Aren’t you afraid?**
“I have nothing to fear. The worst has already happened to me. My eldest and dearest son was kidnapped by a terrorist organization, breaking the basic contract between citizens and their government.”
**How do you think Matan will react to everything you’ve done?**
“I think he’ll be surprised by the level of exposure my family and I have received. Knowing that the entire nation feels as if he grew up alongside them will astonish him, but he won’t be surprised by my determination.”
**When did you start feeling hostility from the public?**
“When Matan was kidnapped, I was still living in Ofakim, which is known for its support of the right-wing camp. I was part of that supportive network. To the city’s credit, there was a strong sense of community, and we were embraced with incredible empathy and support. People asked how they could help, and the solidarity was indescribable. But as I began criticizing decision-makers, especially the prime minister, the support stopped. It was like a knife cutting the thin thread that still connected me to the community.”
**Including threats against you?**
“Yes, threats, hateful messages, and attempts to harm me in public spaces. For example, after I blocked Highway 4 to raise awareness about Matan and the other captives, I stood in the middle of the road near a bonfire I had lit. A driver shouted at me, ‘If you don’t move, I’ll run you over.’ People have lost their humanity and are willing to harm me physically.”
Einav’s family has endured severe violence at protests for Matan’s release. Her daughter was choked, another protester drove into her niece, and Matan’s partner Ilana, who had been kidnapped and released, also faced violence. “We filed complaints about the police violence, but after a few weeks, we received emails or letters saying the cases were closed due to lack of evidence or public interest. I don’t see any point in continuing to fight that battle with the Department for Police Investigations.”
**Is there something positive in all this?**
“Yes, the officer assigned to us since that Saturday, Nurit Lamai. She’s not just a liaison officer to the family—she treats Matan as if he were her own son. She has a daughter named Alma, and to me, I now have four children: Matan, Natalie, Shani, and Alma. Nurit oversees all the intelligence and military aspects of Matan’s situation.”
**Do you practice simulations with her about what it will be like when Matan returns?**
“Yes, we analyze the intelligence and military updates daily, sometimes multiple times a day. However, simulations about Matan’s return happen less often.”
**What do those simulations look like?**
“We discuss who Matan will want to see first when he comes back. There’s also the question of how to gently reintegrate him into reality, ensuring a soft landing without overwhelming him. Many of his friends and neighbors from Kibbutz Nir Oz are no longer alive, and we think about how to break this news to him.”
**Do you rehearse the moment of your reunion?**
“Of course. In the simulation, Nurit stands a few meters away from me. When I know Matan is back in the country, I’ll run to him, hug him, and lay his head on my chest. When a mother gives birth, the first thing the hospital staff does is place the baby on her chest. That’s the moment I want to recreate with Matan when he comes home. When he was born, that was our first connection—mother and son. Afterward, doctors listen for the baby’s cry. This time, I don’t want to hear crying. I want to hear him say, ‘Mom.’ That’s it. His return will be like a rebirth.”
**Are you afraid you’ll never know what happened to Matan?**
“That’s not an option. I reject it outright. It’s unthinkable that citizens and soldiers kidnapped from a sovereign state wouldn’t come home. The Israel Defense Forces must provide closure for every family whose loved ones are currently in captivity.”
**It might be early to ask, but considering the leadership skills you’ve demonstrated this year, do you see yourself entering politics?**
“No. I can’t think about ‘Einav after.’ Right now, I’m focused on the Einav who is fighting and won’t stop until all 101 captives are brought home. ‘Einav after’ will be born only when Matan returns, along with the last of the captives.” link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Sacrificed on the Altar of Netanyahu's Political PowerProf. Boaz AtziliProfessor of Political Science and International Relations; cousin of the late Aviv Atzili, who was killed in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th, his body taken to Gaza.
October 7th was no accident. What happened on that dark day was the result of a chain of omissions, but mainly the result of a deliberate policy practiced by Benjamin Netanyahu, who served as the Prime Minister of Israel for 13 of the past 15 years. Since October 7th, Netanyahu has not changed his course of action and has not confessed his sins. In calculated moves, he continues to abandon and sacrifice the hostages, the soldiers, and the people of Israel on the altar of his own benefits and the preservation of his rule.As early as his first term of office (1996-1999), Netanyahu's policy was clear and publicly stated: weakening any moderate Palestinian element and strengthening the extremist Hamas. The goal? Establishing the narrative that “there is no one to talk to” in order to solidify a right- wing coalition under his leadership. Over the last decade, Netanyahu prevented resources from reaching the Palestinian Authority and denied any initiative for a diplomatic dialogue. At the same time, he encouraged the flow of cash to Hamas and avoided solving the Gaza Strip issues. Violence from Gaza increased, and Netanyahu was able to continue to claim that the Palestinians only understand force. And who paid the price? Who was sacrificed? The Israeli residents of the Gaza Envelope. They faced the missiles, the mortars, and the fire balloons while being neglected by their own government.Over this past year, Netanyahu's willingness to sacrifice others has crossed all lines; the deliberate weakening of public institutions through the judicial coup and the transfer of most of the military forces to guard the heartland of his coalition partners - the settlements in the West Bank - were essentially invitations to our enemies to attack. And who paid the price? Who was sacrificed? The residents of the Western Negev, including most of my family members, who overnight became refugees in their own country. And my dear cousin, Aviv Atzili, who fell in battle while defending Nir Oz, when the IDF failed to arrive to protect the kibbutz and help the small civil defense squad in their fight against the attack of hundreds of terrorists. And his wife, Liat, who was taken hostage and kept in Gaza for nearly two months before being released from captivity in the November deal.Unfortunately, this is not yet the end. If it were up to Netanyahu, this would be an endless war. He is well aware that continuation of the war in Gaza will not only lead to the killing of the hostages but will also continue to serve the interest of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. No matter how many Hamas terrorists and senior officials the Israel Defense Forces kill, the political power of the murderous organization increases in direct correlation with the site of destruction and the dead, wounded, and orphaned children in Gaza. The popularity of the terrorist organization in Gaza, the West Bank, and the world is rising as the war drags on. Why is Netanyahu continuing with a policy that supports Hamas’s interests while sacrificing the hostages, the soldiers, and the people of Israel? Because this is what his messianic coalition partners demand. These partners are already announcing their plans for Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon. When the coalition partners are satisfied, the coalition stays in place, Netanyahu preserves his rule, no commissions of inquiry are set up, and there is no trial. And so, he hopes, we will all forget his crimes. And our loved ones languishing in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza? And the soldiers who are killed in vain? And the destruction and unimaginable death toll in Gaza that guarantees the continuation of the conflict and undermines Israel's security? For him all these are justified sacrifices, sacrifices on the altar of Netanyahu's rule. It is not his loved ones who fall. It is not his associates who are kidnapped. It is not he who pays the price. But rather we all pay. No, Netanyahu. We will never forget, and we will never forgive. The history books will always be there to remind us of your dark legacy. Forever.
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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